The 48 massacres perpetrated so far in 2022 have claimed the lives of more than 170 Colombian civilians.    | Photo: El Nacional

Bogota, June 29 (RHC)-- The Institute of Studies for Development and Peace (Indepaz), of Colombia, denounced on Wednesday the occurrence of a massacre that left five fatalities in the Buenavista community in the municipality of Bajo Baudó, department of Chocó.

This was the 48th incident of this type so far this year and on this occasion the deceased were four young Wounaan indigenous people and one Afro-descendant, who were kidnapped and subsequently killed.

The deceased are Luis Alberto Chamarra, 22 years old; Albis Puchicama Barrigón (25); brothers Jhonsy and Erosio Membache Carpio, 23 and 25, respectively, all inhabitants of the Buenavista-Unión Pitalito reservation; as well as José Antonio Hurtado, resident of Playa de Orpúa.

The Ombudsman's Office had issued an early warning for the Bajo Baudó municipality, due to the situation of insecurity aggravated by the recruitment of minors by armed groups, mainly in the Río Purrisa and Río Pavasa resguardos.

This situation has also provoked individual and massive displacements, restriction of mobility, and other actions that threaten the security of the communities in the region.

Residual armed factions of the Autodefensas Gaitanistas de Colombia (AGC), the ELN's Western War Front, and other local gangs operate in this territory.

To date, the 48 massacres perpetrated so far this year have claimed the lives of more than 170 Colombian civilians; in addition to 92 social leaders killed and 21 signatories of the 2016 Peace Agreement.